South Carolina’s Joyce Edwards Faces Adversity Ahead of Final Four – Can She Bounce Back?
The South Carolina Gamecocks have leaned on Joyce Edwards all season for an offensive spark, and the talented freshman has consistently delivered—often surpassing expectations.
Heading into the NCAA Tournament, Edwards was South Carolina’s leading scorer off the bench, averaging 13.2 points per game while shooting an impressive 55% from the field. She showcased her scoring ability early in the tournament, dropping 22 points in the first-round win over No. 16 seed Tennessee Tech, just six shy of her career high.
But in the past three games, her offensive production has stalled dramatically.
Edwards has scored just 15 total points across the second round, Sweet 16, and Elite Eight, averaging a mere five points per game—a stark contrast to her usual impact. To put it in perspective, she has hit 15 or more points 14 times this season. Her field goal percentage has also dropped to 28.6% over this stretch.
“Yeah, teams are scheming,” head coach Dawn Staley admitted after South Carolina’s Elite Eight victory over Duke. “It’s a gift and a curse that you are our leading scorer, so people are going to zero in on that and scheme to cut her production in half, and because of that, there is a short gap between us winning and losing basketball games.”
Opponents have been locking in on Edwards, particularly Indiana in the second round, where she was double-teamed frequently, held to just five points, and shot 2-for-8 from the field. Despite knowing the defensive pressure was coming, Staley said the experience will be valuable for her growth.
“I probably jinxed her a little bit because I knew they were going to sit on her right hand and take that away,” Staley said. “We knew they were going to double. Sometimes it’s just hard to see. She’s used to scoring the basketball, and when she is not in the flow like she normally is, it’s disruptive. They disrupted her. She’s gonna watch it. And then if anybody else wants to double her, she’ll be well prepared. Sometimes young people need to see it and go through it.”
Edwards’ struggles continued with six points against Maryland in the Sweet 16 and just four points against Duke in the Elite Eight. But with the Final Four showdown against Texas approaching, Staley and her staff have been working to simplify things for her.
After focused preparation, Edwards said she feels she’s approaching Friday’s game with a fresh mindset.
“I feel like after Indiana, I came into the game anticipating a double team that may not always have been there, but may have been there in different situations,” Edwards explained. “So it kind of caused me to overthink a little bit and think against myself. But at the end of the day, I’ve played basketball for over 10 years. I know what I’m doing out there.”
The slump may be coming at an unfortunate time, but her teammates believe it’s just another obstacle to overcome.
“I feel like each and every one of us have hit a roadblock throughout the season, and now it’s gotten to the point where Joyce has hit a roadblock,” said Maryam Dauda. “We’ve each found a way to flip the page, or knock down the wall and move on to the next play. … It’s hard, obviously, as a freshman to do that. But she just has to fight and find a different way to get there.”
Though the struggles have weighed on Edwards, her teammates say she’s showing signs of maturity in handling the situation.
“My coaches talk to me, my teammates talk to me, my parents, my family talk to me, so I feel like I’m in a good headspace. … I feel like I learned from it,” Edwards said. “I have to let it all go and just go out there and play basketball. I know how to play it, so I just have to remind myself that.”
Sania Feagin, Adhel Tac, and Chloe Kitts all emphasized that Edwards’ presence is crucial to South Carolina’s offensive rhythm. While they encourage her to regain her scoring touch, they are also pushing her to contribute in other ways when shots aren’t falling.
“We’re just trying to help her find something else to get her going,” Kitts said. “And that’s like, maybe dragging (the slump) out. We’ve just been feeding her with confidence. I’ve definitely had some talks with her and just telling her, you don’t need to score. If you can’t score — well, we need her to score — but, I mean, if that’s not working out for you, go do something else. Go rebound or go have a really, really good defense.”
In three previous matchups against Texas this season, Edwards has averaged 10 points per game. With South Carolina’s biggest game of the season ahead, she is determined to shake off the slump and deliver when it matters most.
Staley has no doubt about Edwards’ importance to the team’s championship aspirations.
“I know she wants to play well,” Staley said after the Elite Eight. “I know she wants to help our basketball team, but sometimes, you know, in situations like this, I mean, you’ve helped us all season long and it’s OK to allow some other players to help in those situations. … We need her. (If) we are going to win a national championship, we need better production from Joyce.”
With a national title on the line, Edwards has the opportunity to prove her resilience and play a key role in South Carolina’s quest for glory.
